Paper-clip.



F. V. HANN.

PAPER CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.I6. 1914.

1,251, 4, Patehted Jan. 1,1918.

FRANK V. HAHN, F CARLSTAD'I, NEW JERSEY.

PAPER-CLIP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK V. HANN, a

' citizen of the ,United States,"residing at Carlstadt, in the county ofBergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in.

that class of clips which are generally formed of a single length of wire so as to provide opposing jaws normally lying in substantially parallel planes and in such crossed relation that they will serve to grip interposed sheets of paper and hold the same connectedwhen the paper is inserted between the jaws with the edge of the aper against the bights by means of whic the jaws are connected.

One of the principal objects ofmy invention is to provide a paper clip into which interposed paper may be inserted from either of two directions with respect to the body of the clip so that when the jaws become spread and lose their resilient grip by being applied to the paper in one direction, the clip can be reversed and applied to the paper in another direction so as toutilize a portion of the clip which has not lost its grip by spread of its jaws as a result of use.

In one embodiment of my invention the same comprises symmetrically crossed and divergent jaws when the clip is not in use, and when applied, the jaws assume unsymmetrical relation with respect to each ot er.

A further object of the invention is to I form the jaws in such a manner that they will not only be provided with crossing points affording spaced bights of grip on the interposed article, but also, a reinforced buckling portion will be provided so that the grip of the clip on the interposed paper will not only be affected by a resilient grip but also by an appreciable buckling of the paper so as to increase the efiiciency of grip thereon.

Other features and objects of the invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawlng and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in and by the appended clanns.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side view of a clip embodying one form of my invention and showing the same applied in one direction to an mterposed sheet or sheets of paper.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,541.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the clip applied 1n another direction.

Fig.3 is a view in elevation of the clip detached from the paper.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

As illustrated, I have shown my improved clip vformed of wire to provide opposing aws between which paper. or like articles can be gripped, and one of the jaws is in the form of an open loop composed of straight lengths 1 and 2 which are joined together at an angle by a bight 3. I

The opposing aw comprises a loop formed of a straight length 5 and a bent length 6, which lengths are angularly connectedby a bight 4, said lengths being disposed m a manner to cross the length 2, of the first-named jaw, at two points of grip as indicated at 7 and 8, so as to firmly grip the interposed 8. The length to the end of length 1 and may be connected thereto by a bight 15. When, however, the lengths 1 and 5 are formed of the ends of the wire of which the clip is made this bight Patented J an. 1, 1918. j

paper 9 at said points 7 and 5 runs straight from bight 4 may be unconnected or open as shown in the drawing, or closed by welding or other means. The length 6 of said loop is angularly bent at 11 intermediate its ends, one portion 12 of which between the bight 4 and bend 11 crosses the length 2 at 7 as stated; the other portion 13 extends from the bend 11 to the end of length 2 joining it by the bight 14. This portion 13 of length 6 crosses the length 5 at the point 10 in the space between the lengths 1 and 2 of the opposing jaw so as not only to form a reinforced structure at this point but also serves to buckle the paper between the lengths 1 and 2. The straight length 5 will, when the paper to be clipped is inserted as in Fig. 1 between bights 3 and 4, primarily function as the reinforcing element and the bent length 6 will primarily function as the buckling element, particularly the portion "13, as it will be forced by the resiliency of in the clip from the opposlte direction, that is to say, between the bights 14 and 15 the 4 straight length 2 will form the reinforcing 1 element and the portion 12 of the bent lengt 6 will function as the buckling element, the

paper in this case being forcedbetween or toward the space between the lengths 1 and 5.

It will thus be seen that the clip can be inserted or forced over the margin of sheets of paper in either direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. In all clips of 1Zh1S character, the gripping action 1s derived from the resiliency or spring of the blghts which join the jaws. If the grip is continuously used in the position shown 1n Flg. 2, the bights 3 and 4 will in time permit the jaws to spread and the latter will gradually lose their resilient capacity to grip the paper, this being especially so when relatively thick quantities of paper are interposed therebetween. After the aws have lost their resilient grip by reason of spread of the bights 3 and 4:, then the clip can be reversed and used in the position indicated in Fig. 1 to employ the bights 14: and 15.

In either case, there will be a reinforcing crossing point at 10, or at 7, and in either case, one jaw will grip the other at spaced points, as indicated at 7 and 8, or at 8 and 10, and the bend 11 with the portions 12 and 13 extending from the bend will always function as a buckling portion to press the paper between the lengths of the opposing jaws. The eficiency of a grip of this character is greatly increased where reliance is not placed wholly upon spaced points of bights of grip for direct and opposing engagement against the interposed paper, as for example at 7'and 8, but where in addition, the clip serves to buckle the paper, as in the present construction. It will be noted that this buckling action of the part 11, not only serves to buckle the paper from the point of bend of said part up to the bight 4, but it will also be permitted to crease or buckle the paper substantially throughout the lower portion of the open loop lengths between which it acts.

It will be noted that the loop portion 1 will always be at right angles to the edge of the paper 9, irrespective of the manner in which the clip is applied thereto, and that all other loop portions will be at an angle to the edge of the paper 9, other than at a right angle. It will also be noted that the loop of one jaw crosses only one loop portion of the other jaw and extends tonearest ward but not abreast of the otherloop portion of such other jaw thereby always disposing the bend 11 in such a position as to buckle the interposed paper.

jaws connected with the opposite ends of said longitudinal body member and with one another between their crossed portions and adjacent the central portion of said longitudinal body member, the connected portions of said jaws and said longitudinal body member also forming gripping jaws, whereby a pair of gripping jaws is formed at each of the opposite ends of said clip, the connected ortions of the first mentioned jaws serving to clamp and buckle the clip upon the sheets with which it is engaged when either end of the clip is forced over said sheets.

2. A clip comprising a body member, an independent pair of gripping jaws located at elther end of said body member, each end of said body member forming a part of one a of said jaws, the remaining jaws of said pairs having arms extended toward said body member and connected to cooperate with said body member and the main arms of said remaining jaws to cause a buckling action of said clip upon the paper sheets with which it is engaged, said clip being constructed for engagement of either end thereof with the paper sheets Without previous bending or adjusting of the clip.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

FRANK V. HANN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. BUELL, Jos. A. Vmn'r. 

